BT and TalkTalk lose appeal against Digital Economy Act
BT and TalkTalk have today lost their final appeal against the Digital Economy Act on all but one ground, following almost two years of legal challenges.
This means that the government will now be able to implement the anti-piracy Act, after it was decided it was legal and compatible with European law.
It was confirmed that ISPs will have to pay 25% of the qualifying costs incurred by media regulator Ofcom in running and setting up an appeals body when people are accused of illegal downloads.
TalkTalk said it is now "considering our options" following the decision, which will see the ISP, along with BT, paying 93% of the legal bill.
Following the decision, ISPs will now have to send warning letters to alleged illegal file downloaders, as well as possibly cutting users off.